Methanesulfonate salts of abiraterone-3-esters and recovery of salts of abirater one-3-esters from solution in methyl tert-butyl ether

ABSTRACT

A salt of a compound of formula (I) may be made with methanesulfonic acid. The salt and salts with other acids may be prepared by recovering from methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).

This invention relates to novel salt forms of the esters of the compoundabiraterone, or a derivative thereof, and to a process for thepreparation of the compound abiraterone, or a salt or derivativethereof.

Abiraterone acetate of formula:

is a potent selective, orally active inhibitor of the key enzyme ntestosterone synthesis, 17α-hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase, also known assteroid 17α-monooxygenase inhibitor or Human Cytochrome P450_(17α).Suppression of testosterone synthesis has been demonstrated withabiraterone acetate in patients with prostate cancer.

The compound was first disclosed in WO-A-93/20097, with a furthersynthetic method to the compound in WO-A-95/09178 (both BritishTechnology Group Limited). In particular, WO-A-95/09178 discloses thesynthesis of a compound of formula:

where the 3β substituent R′ is hydrogen or a lower acyl group having 2to 4 carbon atoms. One of the methods disclosed makes this from thecorresponding ketone via the steroidal enol triflate(trifluoromethylsulfonate):

The base used in the reported route, 2,6-di-tent-butyl-4-methylpyridine(DTBMP), is expensive. The present inventors have moreover observed aproblem with this process in that, when R′ is a lower acyl group,elimination of the acid occurs, giving an undesirable by-product offormula:

The by-product cannot be removed by recrystallisation at either step.Therefore column chromatography is required at both steps

WO-A-95/09178 suggests replacing the inflate with a corresponding vinyliodide intermediate, and uses this to make compounds by reacting thiswith a (3-pyridyl)-substituted borane of formula:

wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1-4 carbonatoms and Z¹ and Z² independently represent hydroxy or alkoxy or alkylof 1-3 carbon atoms each or Z^(r) and Z² together represent analkylenedioxy group of 2 or 3 carbon atoms.

However, column chromatography is required for this process also.

We have now developed an improved route in which a salt of the desiredcompound is recovered from a suitable solvent. The undesirableby-product remains in solution. This means that the purification processis simplified, as expensive and time-consuming column chromatographysteps can be eliminated.

Accordingly the present invention comprises the salt of a compound offormula (1):

where R′ represents a lower acyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1-4 carbon atoms;

with methanesulfonic acid.

The salt may be recovered from a solution of the free base in anysuitable solvent, or mixture of solvents, by treating the solution withmethanesulfonic acid. Suitable solvents include esters and ethers.Esters which may be used include esters withy acetic acid, such asmethyl acetate, ethyl acetate and isopropyl acetate. Ethers which may beused include diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether and especially methyltert-butyl ether (MTBE), which gave a particularly good recovery of thesalt.

The inventors have found moreover that other salts of the compound maybe recovered in acceptable amounts from MTBE. The present invention alsoincludes a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I):

where R′ represents hydrogen or a lower acyl group having 2 to 4 carbonatoms and R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1-4 carbonatoms;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;

including the step of recovering a salt of the compound, where R′represents a lower acyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and R is asdefined above, from methyl tent-butyl ether (MTBE).

Preferably the acid is hydrochloric, sulfuric or toluoyltartaric acid,or in particular methanesulfonie acid.

Using the present invention, a method for the preparation of thecompound of formula (I) is possible which requires no chromatographicpurification at any stage of the synthesis. The invention isparticularly applicable when the salt of the compound of formula (I) isrecovered from a solution in MTBE comprising a mixture of the compoundof formula (I) and a compound of formula (IV):

wherein R is as defined above.

Preferably R′ represents a lower acyloxy group, especially acetyl.Preferably R represents a hydrogen atom. Most preferably representsacetyl and R represents a hydrogen atom, the compound of formula (I)being abiraterone acetate.

The compound of formula (I) may be made by a process including atriflating step by which a ketone of formula (II) is converted into atriflate of formula (III)

wherein R′ and R are as defined above, or a protected derivativethereof;

the triflating step being conducted in the presence of a base comprisinga tertiary or heterocyclic amine such that the pK_(a) of the conjugateacid at 25° C. is within the range 5.21 to 12.

Using this improved route, the production of the undesirable by-productis kept down to acceptable levels. As this does not use the expensivereagent DTBMP, the route is made commercially more attractive still.

Preferred bases include those set out in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Preferred bases pK_(a) of conjugate Base acid at 25° C. pyridine5.21 2,6-lutidine 6.75 N-methylmorpholine 7.381,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) 8.82 trimethylamine 9.81triethylamine 10.6 N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) 11 quinuclidine11.0 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) 12

Preferably the pK_(a) of the conjugate acid at 25° C. is within therange 6.75 to 10.6. Most preferably the base is 2,6-lutidine ortriethylamine.

Preferably the triflating step is carried out in a solvent comprising anchlorinated organic solvent or an organic ester. Suitable organic estersinclude ethyl acetate. Preferably the solvent is a chlorinated organicsolvent such as chloroform, and in particular dichloromethane or1,2-dichloroethane

In the case where R′ represents hydrogen, the protecting group could beany suitable group for protecting alcohols, as discussed in “Protectivegroups in organic synthesis” 3^(rd) Ed, Theodora W Greene and Peter G.Wuts, published by John Wiley, ISBN 0-471-16019-9, For example, it mightbe protected as a benzyl, methoxymethyl (MOM) or silyl ether.

In the case where R′ represents a lower acyloxy group, no furtherprotection would normally be necessary.

The preferred triflating agent is triflic anhydride (Tf₂O). To minimizedecomposition of the product, preferably the base is added to thereaction mixture shortly after the triflic anhydride, say fifteenminutes or less. The reaction mixture is preferably quenched within anhour after the addition of the base, again to minimize decomposition ofthe product.

We have observed that the use of large excesses of base lead to poorconversion of the ketone of formula (II) into the triflate of formula(III), and that use of large excesses of triflic anhydride can lead torapid decomposition of the product. For optimum conversion of the ketoneof formula (II) into the triflate, the number of equivalents of triflicanhydride is preferably not lower than the number of equivalents ofbase. We have also observed that reducing the amount of base tosub-stoichiometric levels did not affect the conversion.

Thus preferably the triflating step is performed using between 1.0 and1.5 equivalents, more preferably between 1.1 and 1.4 equivalents, oftriflic anhydride relative to the ketone of formula (II); and between0.75 and 1.5 equivalents of base, more preferably between 0.8 and 1.4equivalents, relative to the ketone of formula (II), wherein the numberof equivalents of triflic anhydride is greater than or equal to thenumber of equivalents of base. More preferably, the number ofequivalents of triflic anhydride is greater than the number ofequivalents of base.

The preparation of the ketone of formula (II), and the conversion of thetriflate of formula (III) to a compound of formula (I), are by knownmethods. Thus, the triflate of formula (III), or a protected derivativethereof, may be reacted with a (3-pyridyl)-substituted borane offormula:

wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1-4 carbonatoms and Z¹ and Z² independently represent hydroxy or alkoxy or alkylof 1-3 carbon atoms each or Z¹ and Z² together represent analkylenedioxy group of 2 or 3 carbon atoms;

in the presence of a palladium complex and a polar solvent, using theSuzuki coupling. This is disclosed in WO-A-93/20097.

The salts of the compounds of formula (I) may if necessary be convertedto the free base form and thereafter to such other conventionalpharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts as acetates, citrates,lactates, alkanesulfbnates (e.g. methanesulfonate), and optionallysubstituted tartrates as may seem appropriate.

In this specification the term “alkyl” includes both straight andbranched chain. An analogous convention applies to other generic termssuch as “alkoxy”, “acyl” and “alkylenedioxy”,

It is to be understood that all the ketone of formula (II) disclosed mayexhibit the phenomenon of tautomerism and that the formulae shown inthis specification represent only one of the possible tautomeric forms.It is to be understood therefore that the invention is not limitedmerely to any one tautomeric foul' which is illustrated. For example,the ketone of formula (II) may also exist as an enol of formula (IIA)

The invention is illustrated by the following Examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Salt Screen for the Purification of Abiraterone Acetate 1

Following the synthesis of abiraterone acetate 1 from the correspondingketone 2, in order to separate the abiraterone acetate 1 from the ketone2, a solution of the mixture was treated with an acid to form a salt of1 which would precipitate out of solution leaving the ketone 2 insolution. A matrix of acids and solvents was set up to find the idealconditions for recovery and purity of the isolated salt.

The general procedure for the salt screen was to add the acid (0.27mmol.) to a solution of the mixture of 1 and 2 (0.26 mmol) in thesolvent (10 vol.). The reaction was left for 1 hour at which point anysolids were filtered. The remaining reaction were left for a further 47hours and were inspected. Any solids collected were analysed by ^(r)HNMR. See Table 2.

TABLE 2 Salt screen for the purification of abiraterone acetate 1. AcidSolvent Tartaric Acetic Malic Methanesulfonic Ethyl 1 hr-x acid 1 hr-x 1hr-✓ fine 1 hr-✓ thick acetate not in solution suspension. precipitate,48 hr-x 48 hr-x 48 hr-✓ un- filtered at changed this stage over time (27mg) MTBE 1 hr-x acid 1 hr-✓ fine 1 hr-✓ 1 hr-✓ thick not in solutionsuspension sticky solid precipitate, 48 hr-✓ fine 48 hr-✓ fine 48 hr-✓no filtered at crystals suspension change this stage (52 mg) ✓—solidformed. x—no solid formed.

The reaction with methanesulfonic acid in both ethyl acetate and MTBEfurnished the methanesulfonate salt in high purity with no detectablepresence, by ¹H NMR, of 2 after filtration. On a larger scale (24.4mmol) the salt was recovered in 64% yield at 87.7% yield. The resultingsalt was recrystallised from isopropyl alcohol giving a 41% yield at96.4% purity by peak area.

This material was subjected to a range of alternative recrystallisationconditions, in attempt to increase the purity to >98% (see Table 3).

TABLE 3 Alternative recrystallisation methods Recovery Conditions Purity(%) (%) 1 Recrystallised from minimum volume of 98.8 32 boiling ethanol(12 vol.). 2 Slurried in boiling ethyl acetate (5 vol.) and 99.3 35minimum volume of methanol added (5 vol.) for dissolution 3 Slurried inboiling acetone (35 vol.) 96.8 30 4 Dissolved in DCM (5 vol.) and ethylacetate 97.7 82 added until crystallisation occurs

The free base can be recovered quantitatively from the salt by treatmentof a solution of the salt in DCM with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃. There isno degradation in purity during this treatment.

EXAMPLE 2 Large Scale Synthesis of Abiraterone Acetate 1

Synthesis was conducted as in Scheme 1.

The optimised route was performed on a 10 g scale. The formation of thetriflate yielded the crude product in an 80% yield (11.20 g) with aproduct to starting material ratio of 3:1.

The Suzuki reaction was performed on the crude product using a catalystloading of 0.5 mol %. The product of the Suzuki reaction was isolated ina quantitative crude yield (9.54 g). The ratio of product to ketone 2was 3:1. This yield was also concurrent with the smaller scalereactions.

The abiraterone acetate was purified by formation and crystallisation ofits methanesulfonate salt from EtOAc/MTBE. The salt was isolated in a64% yield (7.65 g) and at 87.7% purity. This was subsequentlyrecrystallised from a minimum volume of boiling isopropyl alcohol (95cm³) to yield the salt in 63% recovery (4.85 g) and at 96.4% purity.

Experimental Triflate Formation 3

To a stirred solution of dehydroepiandrosterone acetate 2 (10 g, 30.3mmol.) in CH₂Cl₂ (100 cm³, 10 vol.) was added Tf₂O (5.60 cm³, 33.3 mmol,1.1 eq.) and the reaction was stirred at room temperature for fiveminutes. A solution of triethylamine (4.22 cm³, 30.3 mmol, 1.0 eq.) inCH₂Cl₂ (100 cm³, 10 vol.) was added over 25 minutes. The resultingpurple solution was stirred at room temperature for 3.5 hours. Thereaction was quenched by addition of water (150 cm³, 15 vol.) and thelayers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (75 cm³,7.5 vol.) and the organic layers were combined. The organic fraction waswashed with 2N HCl (75 cm³, 7.5 vol.) and brine (75 cm³, 7.5 vol.). Theorganic layer was treated with MgSO₄ and activated charcoal (7.0 g, 0.7wt eq.) for 10 minutes. The suspension was filtered through a pad ofCelite™ and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure toyield a brown oil, 11.20 g (80% crude yield). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) showed theratio of product 3 to starting material 2 to be 3:1

Abiraterone Acetate 1

Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ (97 mg, 0.14 mmol, 0.006 eq.), diethyl(3-pyridyl)borane(6.11 g, 41.5 mmol, 1.7 eq.) and 2M Na₂CO₃ (aq) (55 cm³, 111 mmol, 4.5eq.) were added consecutively to a stirred solution of the mixture oftriflate 3 and ketone 2 (11.20 g, 27.7 mmol assuming all substrate istriflate 3) in THF (130 cm³, 10 vol.). The reaction was heated to 80° C.and stirred at this temperature for 5 hours. The reaction was cooled toroom temperature and partitioned between ethyl acetate (130 cm³, 11vol.) and water (130 cm³, 11 vol.). The layers were separated and theaqueous layer extracted with ethyl acetate (65 cm³, 5.5 vol.). Thecombined organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated underreduced pressure to yield a brown oil. This oil was stirred in MeOH (35cm³, 3 vol.) and was gently warmed with a hot air gun. A white solid(unreacted diethyl (3-pyridyl)borane) precipitated and was filtered. Thefiltrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to yield a brown oil(9.54 g, 100% yield). ¹H NMR showed that this material was a 3:1 mixtureof abiraterone acetate 1 and ketone 2.

Salt Formation

Methanesulfonic acid (1.86 cm³, 25.6 mmol, 1.05 eq.) was added to astirred solution of the mixture of 1 and 2 (9.54 g, 24.4 mmol assumingentirely steroid 1) in a mixture of MTBE (50 cm³, 5 vol.) and ethylacetate (50 cm³, 5 vol.). The resulting thick suspension was filteredand the cake washed with MTBE (10 cm³, 1 vol.). The cake was dried inair to yield a tan solid (7.65 g, 64% yield based on all startingmaterial being steroid 1, 87.7% purity by HPLC). The salt wasrecrystallised from boiling isopropyl alcohol (95 cm³) to yield a tansolid (4.85 g, 41% yield, 96.4% purity by HPLC).

EXAMPLE 3 Formation of Salts of Abiraterone Acetate

The principle of purification via salt formation is shown in Scheme 2.

A Screen of Alternative Solvents

A screen was performed of ether and ester solvents which themethanesulfonate salt of abiraterone acetate could be crystallized from.

The acid was added to a solution of crude abiraterone acetate (approx70:30 abiraterone acetate to DHEA) in 8 volumes of the reaction solvent.The mixture was stirred for one hour at room temperature and anyreaction showing the formation of a filterable solid was filtered, and a¹H NMR of the solid taken. See Table 4.

TABLE 4 Alternative solvents Et₂O ^(i)Pr₂O MTBE MeOAc EtOAc ^(i)PrOAc  1hr-X 1 hr-✓ 1 hr-✓ 1 hr-✓ 1 hr-✓ 1 hr-✓ 16 hr-✓ (37% (43% (11% (22% (31%(34% recovery) recovery) recovery) recovery) recovery) recovery)✓—Filterable solid formed which contains negligible DHEA. X—Nopurification detected.

The methanesulfonate salt crystallised readily from all the ethers andesters tested but a better yield was recovered as the lipophilicity ofthe solvent was increased. When crystallisation did occur, abirateroneacetate was purified to a level comparable with that seen from the ethylacetate/MTBE biphasic mixture.

A Screen of Alternative Acids

A wider range of acids to was screened. Some inorganic acids (hydrogenchloride and sulfuric acid) were tested as well as a more lipophilicacid, toluoyltartaric acid.

The acid (1.05 eq.) was added to a solution of crude abiraterone acetate(250 mg, 70:30 abiraterone acetate to DHEA) in 10 volumes of thesolvent. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for an hour andany solid formed was filtered and checked by ¹H NMR. See Table 5.

TABLE 5 Alternative acids MTBE EtOAc MeOH HCl (2M in Et₂O) ✓ (48%recovery) ✓ (30% recovery) X H₂SO₄ (5M in H₂O) ✓ (48% recovery) X(sticky oil) X Ditoluoyltartaric ✓ (40% recovery) ✓ (20% recovery) X(small acid quantity of sticky solid after 16 hours) ✓ crystallisationoccurred after 1 hour (unless stated) and ketone removed. X nofilterable solid formed. No crystallisation unless stated.

Formation of the chloride and ditoluoyltartrate from MTBE and EtOAc andthe sulfate from MTBE were reasonable alternatives to themethanesulfonate salt. All the isolated salts purified the abirateroneacetate to the same degree as that gained from the formation of themethanesulfonate.

Solubility and Dissolution Studies

Samples of abiraterone acetate and its mesylate salt were investigatedfor their solubility in water and the rate of dissolution in water.

Abiraterone acetate free-base Appearance 1 Large, dark-brown, amorphous‘glass-like’, aggregates (pre-pestle & mortar grinding) Appearance 2Pale tan-coloured powder (post-pestle & mortar grinding) Solubility @ 0mg/mL (Insoluble) 20° C. Dissolution No discernable dissolution ofcompound observed, as Rate @ 20° C. evidenced by there being noobservable peaks on the base-lines of the HPLC chromatograms.Abiraterone acetate, mesylate salt Appearance 1 Large, mid-brown,broken-sheet, plate aggregates (pre-pestle & mortar grinding) Appearance2 Pale tan-coloured powder (post-pestle & mortar grinding) Solubility @0.03-0.05 mg/mL, nominally 0.04 mg/mL (Practically 20° C. Insoluble)Equivalent to 30-50 μg/mL, nominally 40 μg/mL Dissolution Maximalsolubility achieved within 60 minutes, Rate @ 20° C. although it was notpossible to quantify earlier time- point samples due to the Limit ofDetection (LOD)/ Limit of Quantification (LOQ) limitations of thecurrent HPLC method.

It can be seen from these results that neither the free base nor themesylate salt is particularly soluble in water.

EXAMPLE 4 Preliminary Investigations into Reaction Steps Step1—Formation of the Triflate

The formation of the triflate may also give the eliminated impurity 4,which is very difficult to remove by crystallisation:

A series of bases was tested using dichloromethane as the solvent (Table6). The % conversion and levels of the impurity 4 were measured by ¹HNMR.

TABLE 6 Alternative bases for the formation of the triflate TriflatingSol- % % agent Base vent Time conversion² 4² Tf₂O (1.0 eq.) 2,6-lutidineDCM 24 hrs 60% 0% (1.2 eq.) Tf₂O (1.1 eq.) 2,6-lutidine DCM 3 hrs 25% 0%(1.4 eq.) Tf₂O (1.1 eq.) 2,6-lutidine DCM 2.5 hrs 13% 0% (1.7 eq.) Tf₂O(1.1 eq.) 2,6 lutidine DCM 4.5 hrs¹ 85% 0% (1.0 eq.) Tf₂O (1.1 eq.) Et₃N(1.4 eq.) DCM 3 hrs 40% 0% Tf₂O (1.1 eq.) Et₃N (1.7 eq.) DCM 2.5 hrs 7%0% Tf₂O (1.1 eq.) Et₃N (1.0 eq.) DCM 1.5 hrs 50% 0% Tf₂O (1.1 eq.) Et₃N(1.0 eq.) DCM 4.5 hrs¹ 77% 0% Tf₂O (1.1 eq.) ^(i)Pr₂EtN DCM 4.5 hrs¹ 80%0% (1.0 eq.) Comparative examples: Tf₂O (1.0 eq.) 2,6-di-tert- DCM 16hrs 80% Trace butyl-4- methyl pyridine (1.2 eq.) Tf₂O (1.1 eq.)2,6-di-tert- DCM 3 hrs 100% 17%  butyl-4- methyl pyridine (1.4 eq.)¹Base added to a mixture of 2 and triflic anhydride. ²Conversion and % 4determined by ¹H NMR.

Repeating the reaction conditions reported in the prior art, using2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl pyridine as the base, went to completion when1.4 equivalents of base were used. However, 17% of the product was theeliminated impurity.

When the conditions were repeated using 2,6-lutidine and Et₃N as thebase (1.4 eq.) the reactions proceeded to around 40% conversion with noevidence of the eliminated product 4.

It had been demonstrated that the reaction proceeded further with ahigher equivalency of 2,6-di-tent-butyl-4-methyl pyridine However, when2,6-lutidine or Et₃N was used as the base, the reaction was inhibited.Therefore the amount of base was cut to 1 eq. and the conversionincreased to 50% after 90 minutes.

This indicated that the reaction was inhibited by excess base, so theprocedure was changed to a slow addition of the base (0.76 mmol. in 15minutes) to a mixture of 2 and Tf₂O. The reaction reached around 80%conversion in 4.5 hours with Et₃N, 2,6-lutidine and ^(i)Pr₂EtN.

When the addition time was extended to 3.5 hours the conversion remainedaround 80% with all the bases. However when the addition time wasreduced to 2 minutes the reaction proceeded to only 45% conversion.

Step 2—The Suzuki Coupling

The Suzuki coupling was performed using reported methods. The product ofthe triflate formation was used in the Suzuki coupling unpurified.

EXAMPLE 5 Further Investigations into Reaction Steps

As noted in Example 4, it has been noted that the formation of thetriflate, 3, may depend on a number of factors:

1. The nature of the base used in the reaction;

2. The relative stoichiometries between the base and UREA, 2;

3. The nature of the solvent used;

4. The reaction time.

Screen of Bases and Solvents for the Triflate Formation

A range of bases of varying basicity and character were used in theformation of triflate, 3. Reactions using each of these bases wereperformed in a variety of solvents. Dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethaneand chloroform were investigated in order to expand the range ofchlorinated solvents utilised for the triflate formation. Ethyl acetate,methyl tert-butyl methyl ether and iso-hexane were studied in order toexpand the nature of the solvents tested.

Each reaction was performed using 250 mg of DHEA, 2, in 20 volumes ofthe solvent. Trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (1.1 eq.) was added tothe solution followed by the base (1.0 eq.) after 15 minutes. After 2hours, a sample of each reaction was quenched into methanol and thereactions examined by LCMS.

Results are shown in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Alternative bases for the formation of the triflate pKa of 1,2-conjugate dichloro- acid CH₂Cl₂ ethane CHCl₃ EtOAc MTBE ^(i)-hexane Et₃N10.6 ✓ (66) ✓ (71) ✓ (36) ✓ (56) X ✓ (54) + <5% elim. <5% elim. 9% elim.decomp. 2,6-lutidine 6.75 ✓ (70) ✓ (75) ✓ (44) ✓ (51) X X 6% elim 10%elim. pyridine 5.21 ✓ (80) + ✓ (78) + X ✓ (52) + X X decomp decompdecomp 4% elim. 4% elim. N,N- 5.20 X X X X X X diethyl- decomp decompdecomp decomp decomp decomp aniline 6% elim. DABCO 8.82 ✓ (29) ✓ (44) X✓ (57) + X X 0% elim. decomp 0% elim. DBU 12 ✓ (54) ✓ (70) X X X X 0%elim. KO^(t)Bu 17 ✓ (61) ✓ (63) X X X X NaH 36 X ✓ (73) + ✓ (67) X X Xdecomp ✓—triflate detected by HPLC (% conversion w.r.t. unreactedketone). X—no triflate detectable.

It should be noted that if a result notes that decomposition wasoccurring, a lot of unidentifiable peaks were present in the LCMS. Thenumbers quoted in the brackets were the conversion of DHEA, 2, totriflate, 3, not the overall yield of 3. A reaction which states aconversion to the triflate but decomposition also, would not give a goodisolated yield under the conditions used. However the reaction may havegiven a better result if different conditions were attempted.

The table entries also show (“elim.”) the amount of eliminated product,5, present by NMR.

Bases whose conjugate acids have a relatively low plc gave the worstresults, with competing reactions causing complications. For instancethe major product noted when. N,N-diethylaniline was used was thede-acetylated product, 4. This was a significant product after extendedreaction time when pyridine was used as the base.

Reactions performed in ethers and hydrocarbons showed problems withsolubility of the reactant along with their reactivity.

Chlorinated compounds proved to be the optimal family of solvents foruse in this reaction. It was noted that on the whole, reactions indichloromethane and 1,2-diehloroethane were comparable whereas those inchloroform were retarded to some degree.

The levels of the eliminated product, 5, could not be detected by LCMS.Therefore selected samples were concentrated and the ¹H NMR of theresidue was taken. These samples were selected due to their higherlevels of impurities shown in the LCMS. The level of the eliminatedproduct was not detected at over 10% levels in any of the reactions andwas not detected at all when DABCO and DBU were used.

It should be noted that from the initial studies using2,6-di-tart-butyl-4-methylpyridine (pK_(a) 4.41 in 50% EtOH solvent at27±2° C.) that if the reaction was halted before completion, the levelsof the eliminated product, 5, were much reduced. Only when theequivalents of the base were increased did the level of eliminationincrease. The bases subsequently used above never drove the reaction tocompletion. If excess base were used the reaction stalled and if thereaction time was extended other competing side reactions decomposed theproduct to species other than 5. Optimisation of the reaction profile ofthe triflate formation.

It had already been noted that the addition rate of the base to thereaction had a major effect on the yield of the reaction. In addition,the product decomposed if the reaction was left unquenched overnight.The effect of the relative timings of the addition of Tf₂O and Et₃N, aswell as the total reaction time, were explored.

Each reaction was performed on a 500 mg scale under standard conditions.Samples were taken at the prescribed times and partitioned between ethylacetate and water. The organic layer was concentrated and the residuetested by ¹H NMR.

Results are shown in Table 8. Any decomposition of the product wasdetected by the change in the shape of the aliphatic region of thespectra and could therefore only be qualitatively described.

TABLE 8 optimisation of the reaction profile of the triflate formationTime between Tf₂O and Time after Tf₂O % Et₃N addition (mins) addition(mins) conversion Decomposition? 0.3 18 22 None 65 27 None 125 35 None245 39 None 15 18 50 None 65 68 Slight 125 75 Some 245 75 Significant 6018 21 None 65 71 Slight 125 75 Significant 245 75 Significant

The first point to note is that the formation of the triflate started tooccur without the presence of the base, but addition of the basesincreased the rate of reaction.

The results also indicated that the reaction was essentially complete 1hour after the addition of the base. Extension of the reaction timebeyond an hour resulted in a reduction in the quality of the triflatedue to decomposition of the product.

Any decomposition occurring was not forming the eliminated product, 5,but other unidentified compounds.

Examination of the Optimum Relative Stoichiometry for the TriflateFormation

It had already been noted that the use of large excesses of base lead topoor conversion of DHEA, 2, to the triflate, 3, and that use of largeexcesses of Tf₂O lead to rapid decomposition of the product. We wantedto investigate the effect of changing the relative stoichiometry of thetwo reactants across a narrow range.

Each reaction was performed using 250 mg of DHEA under standardconditions. Triethylamine was added 15 minutes after the addition ofTf₂O and the reaction sampled after 2 hours. Results are shown in Table9.

TABLE 9 optimum relative stoichiometry for the triflate formation Eq.Tf₂O Eq. Et₃N Conversion after 2 hours¹ 0.8 0.8 33% 1.1 0.8 66% 1.4 0.881% + decomposition² 0.8 1.1 36% 1.1 1.1 64%² 1.4 1.1 83% 0.8 1.4 40%²1.1 1.4 53% 1.4 1.4 70% ¹Measured by LCMS ²Conversion confirmed by ¹HNMR.

These results confirmed that the number of equivalents of triflicanhydride needs to be higher than the number of equivalents of base foroptimum conversion of DHEA to the triflate, 3. However, reducing theamount of base to sub-stoichiometric levels did not affect theconversion.

1. The salt of a compound of formula (I):

where R′ represents a lower acyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and Rrepresents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1-4 carbon atoms; withmethanesulfonic acid.
 2. A salt as claimed in claim 1 in which R′represents a lower acyloxy group.
 3. A salt as claimed in claim 1 inwhich R represents a hydrogen atom.
 4. A process for the preparation ofa salt as claimed in claim 1 by recovering the salt from a solution ofthe free base in
 5. A process as claimed in claim 4 in which the solventcomprises an ester or an ether.
 6. A process as claimed in claim 5 inwhich the solvent comprises methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).
 7. A processfor the preparation of a compound of formula (I):

where R′ represents hydrogen or a lower acyl group having 2 to 4 carbonatoms and R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1-4 carbonatoms; or a pharniaceutically acceptable salt thereof; including thestep of recovering a salt of the compound, where R′ represents a loweracyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and R is as defined above, frommethyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).
 8. A process as claimed in claim 7 inwhich the acid is hydrochioric, sulfuric or toluoyltartaric ormethanesulfonic acid.
 9. A salt as claimed in claim 7 which R′represents a lower acyloxy group.
 10. A salt as claimed in claim 7 inwhich R represents a hydrogen atom.